In addition to the previously posted thoughts, below you will find an abbreviated rundown of ideas expressed during the Town Hall discussion held Saturday, January 24th. Approximately 259 ALA members attended and 45 members approached the mics with their ideas. ALA President James Rettig, Kendall Wiggin (Chair of the Legislation Committee)and representatives from the ALA Washington Office staff were in attendance to make note of ideas brought by the membership. The information will be compiled and the Washington Office will take the message forward to the Obama Administration.

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Please use this page for pre- and post-Midwinter Membership Town Hall discussions. You need to have a registered account on this wiki to do that, but registration is free and simple. Click on "login", above, to get started. If you came to this page without context, see [[Membership Town Hall Meeting]] for some details.

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Summary of Ideas Expressed

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*Patriot Act

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*Role of Libraries in distributing information

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*Serving Immigrants

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*ERATE

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*New Orleans

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*Library Fellows / International Ideas

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*Military Libraries

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*School Library Media Specialist

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*Federal Depository Library Program

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*Library Role in Health Care

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*Institute for Museum and Library Services

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*Braille

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*Government Information

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*Full Digital Capture of Government Administration

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*Special Collections Conservation

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*Child Protection Limitations

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*No Child Left Behind

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*Library Services and Technology Act

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*Public Libraries

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*Partner with Obama Family on Reading Campaign

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*Graduate Programs

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*State Laws

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*Lifelong Learning

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*Federal Agency Cooperation

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*Public Library

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*Government Agencies

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*Partner

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*School Library Media Specialists and School Library

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*21st Century Education

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*Skills Act Update

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*Help the Poor / Disabilities

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*Equal Access and engaged public

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*Role of Librarians

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*Criminal Justice – Juvenile

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*Tribal Colleges

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*Ask Obama Theme - bad

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*Ask again, ask again,

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*Public Library needs

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*Personal Privacy

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*Open Access

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*Change copyright and broaden fair use

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*Rural Libraries

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*Early reading

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*Economy Down, Usage Up

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So, what do ''you'' think we should talk about?

So, what do ''you'' think we should talk about?

Latest revision as of 20:14, 28 January 2009

Please use this page for pre- and post-Midwinter Membership Town Hall discussions. You need to have a registered account on this wiki to do that, but registration is free and simple. Click on "login", above, to get started. If you came to this page without context, see Membership Town Hall Meeting for some details.

So, what do you think we should talk about?

I favor changing the existing e-rate program, so many of the step are redundant.

The existing e-rate program should be changed for public libraries so that the current labor intensive application process to secure refunds would be replaced by a system of direct, "up front" discounts granted by service providers.

Federal support for expanded hours and services to support the nation during this downturn

A Census of Federal Libraries (libraries operated by both Cabinet-level departments and independent agencies) with information about their scope, funding, and capabilities.

I think all librarians should be asking for increased budget for the Library of Congress. I also think that much of the new money should go toward hiring full-time catalogers and working to maintain and upgrade cataloging standards and practices.

The new President's reading material has generated a good deal of interest throughout the country. I'd like to see the ALA work with the Administration to periodically release a list of what the President is currently reading. It would generate a good deal of discussion, call attention to some great books, and improve the level of public discourse around civic issues (and bring more people into our libraries). The opposition party might want to work with ALA to release a Response List to the President's Reading List.

I'd like to see ALA promote libraries in their work with the business community. We have so much technology, meeting rooms, print and online resources that often go to waste or are under-utilized. For example, ALA might promote making library resources available for re-training the jobless and helping the business community. Or facilitate working with local businesses and trainees to open library computer labs for online courses with computer moderators available for help. Or promote opening auditorium facilities for satellite or podcast capabilities for distance learning to re-train workers. Directly work with local businesses to promote the use of library business-related databases and resources - providing hands-on help by librarians when needed.